Dual wheel brake



' March 20,1945. c, a A H I 2,372,047

DUAL-WHEEL BRAKE Filed March 10, 1942 s Sheets-Shet 1 h, IINVENTOR: J Cl/fl/E'L 5 5.45/1

ATr RNEY March 20, 1945. Q Q ASH 2,372,047

DUAL WHEEL BRAKE 7 Filed March 10, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR V 6/114 1.45 5. ASH

A ORNEY,

March 20, 1945. c. s. ASH Q 2,372,047

DUAL WHEEL BRAKE Filed March 10, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR CHARLES s. ASH

ATTORNEY Patented-Mar. 20, 1 Q

; UNITED STATES PATENT oFFieE I mm. v vfiifnaaxa I I Charles 8. Ash, Milford, Mich.

Application March 10, 1942, Serial No. 434,032

8 Claims.

v The inventionconsists-in the novelparts, cone structions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to hereinand constituting a part'thereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve, to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings: .Fig. 1 is a vertical axial sectional view of a dirigible, independently rotatable dual wheel assembly including braking means for the wheels; Fig. 2- is a vertical, transverse sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view taken along line 3-4 of F18. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of a brake shoe for the dual wheel assembly shown in Fig. 1, showing the and Fi 5 is another vertical cross sectional view of a brake shoe for the dual wheel assembly taken at a different line on the brake shoe and showing the brake shoe-actuating tongue.

'The present invention has for'an object the 35 provision of a dual wheel assembly-for vehicles in which the two wheels of the assembly are free to rotate independently of each other and are provided with adequate, substantial and practical braking means. A further object of the invention is the provision of such .braking means for dirigible dual wheel'assemblies' of the typejust mentioned. The present invention provides braking means for each wheel of an independently rotatable dual wheel assembly which are independently acting upon the respective wheels of the assembly but are automatically balanced at all times to exert an equal retarding action p when the brakes are being applied. sun afurther object is the provision of a safe, sturdy, economical and reliable braking structure for a pair of independently rotatable dual wheels and one whichis particularly adapted for use on the front or steering end of a vehicle.

In accordance with the typical and illustrative each other. Each brake member is mounted on brake shoe anchoring tongue;

. embodiment of the invention herein described. a wheel spindle is mounted on the end of the front axle of a vehicle by a yoke and king pin assembly for horizontal rotary movement about the axle end in steering the vehicle. The outer wheel of a suitable thrust and anti-friction bearings, and

the inner wheel of the assembly with a somewhat rotation upon the elongated hub of the outer wheel, suitable thrust and anti-friction bearings being provided between the inner and outer wheel hubs.

illustratively described comprise a pair of conical brake members positioned side by side at the inner side of the inner wheel with their respective peripheries of the greater diameter adjacent one of the wheels for coaxial rotation therewith, the inner member being mounted on a radially outwardly extending annular member "integral with the outer wheel hub at its inner end, and the inner-member being mounted on the inner wheel by means of a cylindrical member connecting the wheel and the brake member and enclosing the brake member for the outer wheel.

. A pair of semi-circular brake shoes of V cross: 30 section are positioned within the brake members and anchored in spaced apart relationship so that the inclined braking surfaces of each shoe may be forced outwardly into frictional contact with the inclined inner surfaces 'of the two brake ing members are provided between the adjacent ends of the semi-circular brake shoes, and each member comprises a pivotal mounting for the adiacent end of one brake shoe and a hydraulic actuating cylinder and piston to exert a force against the adjacent end of the other brake shoe. The brake anchoring and actuating members are pivotally, mounted on the spindle yoke arms for pivotal axial movement but are held against '45 rotation, so that the retarding effort of the brake shoes upon the respective conical brake members will at all times be automatically balanced when the brakes are in use due to the ability of 1 the brake shoes to occupy the most effective axial 50 position. I

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as'well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive 56 thereof.

dual wheel assembly is rotatably mounted upon I the spindle by means of an elongated hub and,

shorter hub ismounted for independent relative The braking'means for'the wheels as herein I members. A pair of brake anchoring and actuat of a pair Ii which is positioned between the yoke arms i2, i3 integral with spindle l4, washer is and roller bearing It being interposed between the enlarged end and the yoke arms. A king pin II is mounted with suitable bushings in the yoke arms l2, l3 and extends through the enlarged end I l, whereby the spindle. M is mounted in the usual manner on axle It for steering action by means of a suitablesteering arm I] connected to the upper yoke arm l3. Anti-friction bearings 22, 28 are mount'edo the spindle i4 and iournalled against the inner cylindrical surface of the elongated outer wheel hub 24, the bearings and hub assembly beingmaintained in place on the spindle by means of the annular shoulders 25, 26 or the hub to engage threaded on the end of the spindle. The inwardly dished outer wheel web 30 is fixed to'its hub 24 by means of a plurality of bolts SI andnuts 32, while the inwardly dished inner wheel web 35 has an integral hub 88 iournalled for independent relative rotation upon outer wheel hub 24 with interposed double bushings 38, 38.

' The outer end ofhub 3B is iournalled in an enlarged and reinforced portion Mi oi the outer wheel web, thrust bearing ll being interposed,

' and the inner end of the hub is held against the forces of axial thrust by the radially extending annular brake member carrying member 45 integral with hub 2i, and thrust bearing 46 is interposed. Felt lubricant retaining washers G1, 48 are provided at the ends of hub 38 to maintain a lubricant and dust seal for the independently rotatable hubs 24 and 38. The wheel webs 30, as are provided with suitable tire carrying 'bearings 22, 23 respectively, and the nut 2| of semi-circular brake shoes III, II of V formed cross section, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The outer surfaces of these brake shoes are provided with strips of friction materialor brake lining 12 which maybe riveted thereto, and the brake shoes are positioned on-eith'er side of the 'axle II and adapted, by their combined action,-

to frictionally engage a major portion of the cir- ,cumferences of the inclined inner surfaces of brake members 55 and 80 when the brake means are actuated, as hereinafter set forth.

.The brake shoes ll, H are mountedfor balanced. braking action upon the yoke arms l2, ll and as illustratively shown in the accompanying drawingsthe brake shoe mounting means c'omprise a triangular, box-like supporting member It positioned at one side of the yoke arms, and

another triangulanbox-like supporting member ll of somewhat diflerent specific shape positioned at the otherside or the yoke arms. Each of the support members I6; i8 is provided with a pair oi'integral flanges I! which extend at substantially right angles from the bases of the respective supporting members. 'The flanges are machined to accurately face the sides of'the yoke arms i2, I3 and are ailixedthereto by a plurality of bolts is extending through transverse borings in the yoke arms and flanges provided for the purpose. The flanges I! are of suflicient length to cover off the width of the yoke arms i2, i3 and to extend a substantial distance beyond, and are provided at their ends beyond the yoke arms with enlarged and reinforced portions an. The pins 81 are journalled in suitable circular apertures bored in the enlarged and portions 80 and are removably secured therein by snap rings 8!.

rims 49 which may be mounted upon their re- Y conical brake member mounted on each wheel for independently frictionally retarding the respective wheels and means for exerting balanced vfrictional force upon the conical brake members.

According to the illustrative embodiment shown.

in the accompanying drawings, .a conical'brake member I! for the outer wheel is mounted on the annular brake member carrying member ll by means of a plurality of bolts 58 and nuts ll,

- while a second conical brake member it for the inner wheel is mounted upon a substantially 1 cylindrical member ti by means of bolts 82 and nuts 83 which secure the member ii to an integral annular flange portion ll provided for the purpose on the brake member. The cylindrical member ti encloses the outer brake member II and is mounted on the inner wheel as for coaxial rotation therewith. 'As illustratively shown in Fig. i, this mounting may utilize the bolt It to secure the cylindrical member to the inner wheel, the bolt also serving to mountthe rim u on the wheel. The cylindrical member is further secured to the inner wheel II by a plurality of cap crews ll (Fig. 3) the screws being spaced apart about the periphery of the wheel and positioned alternately between bolts I.

Balanced frictional retarding effort upon the conical brake members 85, it is effected by means The pins 8| form a pivotal support for the brake shoes l0, ll which insures a balanced individual braking efiort upon the independently rota-table dual wheels and 35. As illustratively shown in the accompanying drawings, and referring particularly to Fig. 2, a pair of brake shoe anchoring and actuating members 85 are provided, and these members have the elongated bases 86 with a. longitudinal bore therein into which the pin 8| is inserted in assembling the structure. The upper portionsof the anchoring and actuating members 85 are formed on one side in integral circular flanges 81 on which the brake shoes lil,|i, are pivotally mounted by means of elongated tongues 88, which are integral with the brake shoes and extend from one end thereof,

and pins ll which are seated in suitable bored apertures in the ends or tongues "and flanges 81.

The supporting members Iii are formed at movably -and replaceably secured in suitable slots in the ends of tongues I! by pins 1. The arouate faces of contact members It are seated in corresponding grooves extending along the dimeter of pistons 85 provided in rectangular inserts 98 of pistons 8!. With the described construction it will be apparent that the brake actuating pistons 8| may force brake shoes I0,

" outwardly about the pivot of pins 88am simultaneously into contact with .conical brake members 55 and 60 for the exertion of braking action on the vehicle wheels, and that the free sliding contact between the tongues 95 and pistons ill will allow for the pivotal, brake balancing action of the brake anchoring and actuating members 85 about their supporting pins 8|. The

brake shoes I and 'H are located exactly cen.-

trally of drums 55 and Miami in retracted position are very close thereto. When the brake shoes are moved into braking engagement with the conical braking members, the axial movement of the shoes necessary to effectually balance the cient to allow the necessary axial movement of the brake shoes.

Suitable and conventional brake fluid tubes I00 are connected to'the brake actuating chambers 90 for the actuation of the brakes by hydraulic pressure in the usual manner by the vehicle operator, and retraction springs IIJI are connected to the brake bands 10, H and the anchoring and actuating members 85 so that the brake shoes will be held ut of contact with the brake members 55, 69 until the brakes are to be applied.

The triangular, box-like supporting member 15 is formed at its apex or end away from the yoke arms l2, l3 in. a thickened and reinforced portion I05 having the bolt lliir positioned in bored apertures therein. for pivotally mounting a conventional tie rod I01 for the wheel assembly, and the bolt is secured in place by a nut I08. An annular protecting plate H0 is affixed with screws Hi to the end or apex of the other triangular box-like supporting member 16 -to prevent fouling the brake mechanism with dust and mud.

With the construction shown and described, it will be apparent thatjthe supporting and actuating members 85 and the brake shoes 10, II "are permitted a certain limited movement axially of the spindle l4 and about pins. 8| as pivots, so that when the brakes are applied and the V- shaped brake shoes are forced into contact with the inclined inner surfaces of the conical brake tion therewith, a-brake member having inclined braking surfaces for frictionalengagement with the brake elements, actuating means for moving the brake member into frictional conta'ctwith the brake elements, and mounting means on the axle carrying said actuating means and. anchoring the brake member against rotation and in eluding a pivotal support for the brake member and actuating means allowing pivotal axial movement of said member and said actuating means. 2. Ina dirigible dual wheel assembly, the combination of an axle end, -a spindle mounted on the axle end by yoke and king pin assembly for steerin'g movement about the axle end, a pair of side by side wheels mounted on the spindle for independent relative rotation, a pair of annular inclined brake elements each connected to a wheel for coaxial rotation therewith, a brake member having inclined braking surfaces for frictional engagement with the brake elements, means-for moving the brake member into frictional contact with the brake elements, and mounting means on the yoke arms of the yoke and king pin assembly anchoring the brake member against rotation ,and including a pivotal support for the brake j member allowing pivotal axial movement of said member.

v 3. Ina dirigible dual wheel assembly, the combination of an axle end, ,a' spindle, yoke arms on the spindle and a king pin on the axle end whereby the spindle is mounted for steering movement about the axle end, a pair of side by side wheels mounted on the spindle for independent members 55, 60 each of the independently rotatable dual wheels 80, will be independently braked and the braking effort will be at all times equalized and balanced. There is thus removed the possibility of one wheel skidding while the other continues to rotate during the braking v process with the attendant dangers of such imperfect braking, and the brake lining material 12 will tend to wear evenly when it c ntacts the different brake drums 65, I8 and continue the.

balanced operation of the dual wheel brakes.

The inventionin its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and de- 1 I scribed but departures may be made therefrom rotation. a pair of annular inclined brake elements each connected to a wheel for coaxial rotarelative rotation, a pair of annular inclined brake members each connected to a wheel for coaxial rotation therewith. a brake shoe having inclined braking surfaces for frictional engagement with the brakemembers, brake shoe anchoring means pivotally connected to one end of the brake shoe, and brake shoe actuating means having sliding engagementwith the other end of the brake shoe, said brake shoe anchoring means and brake shoe actuating means being pivotally mounted on the yoke arms for movement axially'of the spindle.

4. Brakes for a pair of side by side independently rotatable dual wheels comprising'in combination, a pair of side by side. annular inclined brake elements each connected for coaxial rotation with a wheel. a brake memberhaving inclined braking surfaces for engagement with the brake elements, means connected to the. brake member for holding said member against rotation, and power means engaging the brake member for moving said members into frictional .contactwith the brake elements, said two last mentioned means being pivotally mounted for pivotal movement axially of the brake elements. 5. In a dual wheel assembly. the combination of a pair of side-by-side, coaxial, independently rotatable, brake' members having inclined annular faces, held against substantial axial move-v ment, common brake shoe means mounted for engagement with both of said brake members, a brake anchor and means interconnecting the brake anchor and brake shoe means including a link connected to the anchor by a pivot forming substantially a right angle with the axis of the brake members whereby pressure ofthe brake shoe means on the brake members may be equalized. 1

, 6. In a dual wheel assembly, the combination of a pair of side-by-side, coaxial, independently ment, common brake shoe means mounted tor engagement with both of said brake members, a brake anchor and means interconnecting the brake anchor and brake shoe means including a link connected to the anchor by a pivot. for preventing substantial rotation of the shoe means while allowing axial movement thereof.

a. m a dual wheel assembly, the combination 0! an axle, a pair of side-by-side wheels mounted on the end .of the aide for independent relative rotation, a pair of annular inclined .braire ele- 7. In a dual wheei assembly, the combination a pair of side-by-side. coaxial, independently rotatable brake members having inclined annular faces, held against substantial axial movement,

common brake shoe means mounted for engagement with both of said brake members, a pair oi brake anchors and means interconnecting the brake anchors and brake shoe means including a link and a pair of parallel pivots at right angles to the axis of the brake members.

ments each connected to a wheel for coaxial rotation therewith, a brake member between the brake elements having inclined braking surfaces for frictional engagement with the brake elepermitting axial movement thereof.

CHARLES s. ASH. 

